Michael Godel

Michael Godel
Followers (297)
Reviews (32176)
  • (806)
  • (396)
 

For the past 13 years Michael Godel has been tasting and assessing wine as a journalist, a critic and partner at WineAlign.com. He is often called “Godello,” a nickname that just happens to double as a terrific white Spanish grape. Godel has spent the better part of his writing career travelling planet wine in search of varietal truth and in that time has crafted more than 31,000 lengthy tasting notes, most of them positive, all of them thorough. He processes his thoughts, musings, stream of consciousness and experiences on wine, travel, music and pop culture at his eponymous website godello.ca.

Chef Michael hung up his well-used, 25 year-old whites when he closed up shop in December 2013 after a rewarding 25-year culinary run in Toronto restaurants and with the catering business he owned called All Our Favourite Foods. In March of 2011 he teamed up with Chef David Neinstein at Toronto's Barque Smokehouse and March 2024 will mark his 13th anniversary as Wine Director of the Toronto restaurant. He also makes a line of small lot wines out of Chianti Classico in Tuscany and the Niagara Peninsula, including Corretta Chianti Classico, All Day Rosé, Interloper Cabernet Franc, As Is Field Blend and Paramour Gamay.

Investigative wine travels in the last 10 years have included destinations like British Columbia, Nova Scotia, California, New York, Argentina, South Africa, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain, but Italy has commanded much of Godel’s attention. Fortune has smiled to the tune of 60 trips in ten years with more than half of them to Tuscany and in particular Chianti Classico. In February 2018 the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico made Godel one of their first five recipients of an Ad Honorem title, “Ambasciatore.” As Canadian ambassador he educates on behalf of the Tuscan territory’s Gallo Nero and their noble Sangiovese. Twelve excursions in Montalcino have also led to educating on behalf of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino. From 2016-2019 these Sangiovese investigations took the form of in person seminars and masterclasses for sommeliers, trade and media, but also restaurant staff education. In 2020 and 2021 the pivot led to lecturing more than a dozen online webinar sessions. Godel has also served as an educator for the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (ICCO), Rioja DOCa, Vins de Bourgogne, Le Marche, Barbera d'Asti e vini del Monferrato, Asti Wines and Wines of Portugal, including for the wines of Vinho Verde.

Serving as a judge for the annual WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada since 2013 has been the greatest honour and Godello has always been proud to taste, assess and award medals alongside colleague David Lawrason at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and with Tony Aspler’s Ontario Wine Awards. Michael lives in Toronto with his wife of 28 years and three children.

http://godello.ca mgodlelo

Latest Reviews (31648 in total)

Show 10, 25, 50, 100 wines per page
  Wine Rating Price Quantity  
Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart Of The Barossa Shiraz 2012, Mclaren Vale, South Australia Bottle Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart Of The Barossa Shiraz 2012, Mclaren Vale, South Australia
South Australia, Australia
167189
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$19.95 None
(0)V
Cálem Lágrima White Port, Dop Bottle Cálem Lágrima White Port, Dop
Douro, Portugal
912568
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$16.95 None
(0)V
Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2011, Wo Swartland Bottle Lammershoek Roulette Blanc 2011, Wo Swartland
Swartland, South Africa
225458
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$21.95 None
(0)V
Andrew Rich Red Willow Vineyard Merlot 2010, Columbia Valley Bottle Andrew Rich Red Willow Vineyard Merlot 2010, Columbia Valley
Washington, Usa
408369
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$32.95 None
(0)V
Château Grand Corbin Manuel 2009, Ac Saint émilion Grand Cru Bottle Château Grand Corbin Manuel 2009, Ac Saint émilion Grand Cru
Bordeaux, France
403907
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$44.95 None
(0)V
Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc 2013, Napa Valley Bottle
Wwac_gold2015_transparent_thumbnail
Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc 2013, Napa Valley
California, Usa
221887
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$22.95 None
(0)V
Calcagno Feudo Di Mezzo Nerello Mascalese 2011, Igt Sicilia Bottle Calcagno Feudo Di Mezzo Nerello Mascalese 2011, Igt Sicilia
Sicily, Italy
408187
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$34.95 None
(0)V
Freemark Abbey Chardonnay 2013, Napa Valley Bottle Freemark Abbey Chardonnay 2013, Napa Valley
California, Usa
361949
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$37.00 None
(0)V
La Crema Chardonnay 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County Bottle La Crema Chardonnay 2013, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
California, Usa
67231
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$39.95 None
(0)V
Masperla 2009, Doca Priorat Bottle Masperla 2009, Doca Priorat
Priorat, Spain
385732
Review added: March 26, 2015
Sign In to see Critic Reviews. Not a Member? Please Sign Up.
$21.75 None
(0)V
Show 10, 25, 50, 100 wines per page